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Karl Denson's
Tiny Universe

December 2nd, 2005
by Corey J. Feldman
Speechless.  He leaves you speechless.

Karl Denson has the superhero ability (both as an improvisational musician and as a professional entertainer) to squeeze the most funk out of any given crowd.  BB King's Blues Bar and Grill was full with people dining, drinking, and dancing for this evening act on December 2, 2005.  It only lasted until 11pm, because Denson was doing his late night set downtown at the Blue Note.

Denson gained his fame playing saxophone for Lenny Kravitz, but now he leads his own universe of upbeat, funky, progressive original tunes.  He employs some of the best musicians to back him up, and his guest sax players were also some of the best with which to share a stage.  It was particularly enjoyable to watch his trumpet player Chris Littlefield, who often took the reigns and lead the band into an improvised funk groove.

If you’re the type of person who can enjoy funk, you’re the type of person that needs more cowbell.  With Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, there is no shortage of cowbell.  Nor is there shortage of cabasa, or tambourine, or shakers.  In their Tiny Universe, these instruments manage to get passed around constantly from Littlefield to Denson to guitarist Brian Jordan, and even to the guest horn players who may only have the stage for one or two songs.  Denson himself tends to float around the stage, once dancing his way to the keyboards.  The recording sounds like keyboardist David Veith has four arms.

Enough can never be said about the rhythm section of this band.  Bassist Ron Johnson and drummer John Statten create the foundation upon which to dance.  It’s their rhythm that is constantly vibrating through the dance floor.  They lay down the funk, while Denson brings it up with his sax or flute.  It’s a perfect combo.


Photo by Shoji Ichikawa.

Karl Denson is an awesome leader for a band.  Soulful, funky, confident, and charismatic, his Tiny Universe captures their audience with jazzy improvisation and groovy funk that literally forces you to dance, bounce, or move in some way.  It is great music any time of day, whether the evening slot at BB King's, the late night at Bonnaroo, or rockin’ your iTrip and the shower radio.

Karl Denson ended his show by taking a collection for Katrina Relief, asking people to donate as they left.  Though very philanthropic, the $20 show only lasted until 11pm, which left me and others still pining for more tunes. That aside, it was an amazing show from a musical great.